Dispensing apparatus



March 23, 1954 w J EMMONS ETAL 2,673,006

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet l H TiINVENTORS WILL/AM J EMMONS BERNARD S. GALLAGHER L11 m "a. M

A TTORNEY March 23, l 954 W. J. EMMONS ET AL DISPENSING APPARATUS '7Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1948 I will! I m INVENTORS WILLIAM J-EMMONS All g R/VARD s. GALLAGHER UIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIII ATTORNEY March23, 1954 w EMMONS ETAL 2,673,006

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORSWILLIAM J. EMMOIVS ARD .5. GALLAGHER W amw A TTORNEY 7 Sheets-Sheet 4March 23, 1954 Filed April 16, 1948 INVENTOR5 WILLIAM J-EMMONS ggmvnnos. GALLAGHER QM W ATTORNEY March 23, 1954 w. J. EMMONS ET AL 2,673,006

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig; 9-

INVENTORS WILL/AM J. EMMO/VS BERNARD S. GALLAGHER ATTORNE Y March 23, 15 w. J. EMMONS ETAL 2,673,006

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORSWILLIAM J- EMMO/VS gERN/IRD 5. GALLA GHER ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23,1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE William J. Emmons, Alameda, and BernardS. Gallagher, Piedmont, Calif., assignors to Salter Machine Company,Oakland, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 16, 1948,Serial No. 21,374

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved dispenser. More particularly theinvention relates to an improved machine for dispensing metered amountsof subdivided material. Also the invention is directed to an apparatussuitable for storing subdivided hygroscopic material and for dispensinga measured quantity of said material into each of a moving line ofcontainers.

.A division of this application claiming some of the subject matterherein claimed was filed on July 1-8, 1949, Serial No. 109,799.

The apparatus which we have invented is especially useful in a canneryas a machine for storing granular sodium chloride or granular calciumchloride and dispensing a measured amount of either directly into eachcan. either before or after the can has been filled with food products.

Heretofore it has been .difiicult to store, measure, and dispensehygroscopic materials in the moist air of a cannery. The availablemachines were either unsuited to large scale, rapid operation or wereunable to keep hygroscopic salts dry enough so that they would flow.Moreover, the machines tended to be complicated. They were expensive,diflicult to assemble and disassemble, and hard to keep clean. Thehoppers often became clogged by the salt, and, since the machines wereclosed, it was necessary to look inside the machine frequently in orderto see whether the hopper was clogged or empty. In spite of regularexaminations, it often happened that many cans received no salt beforethe clogged or empty condition of the hopper was discovered.

One object of this invention is to provide a highly efficient apparatusfor holding, measuring, and dispensing hygroscopic materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which iseasily cleaned, and is especially adapted to being cleaned by washingwith water, steam or air.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser forhygroscopic materials which is so constructed as always to be subject tovisual inspection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser forhygroscopic materials in which the hopper can be closed off, withdrawnfrom the measuring and dispensing portions of the apparatus, and usedfor dry storage of the material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser having aspecially constructed nonclog ing magazine beneath the hopper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel heating unit whichmay be used to main tain arid conditions inside a dispenser forhygroscopic materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a self-contained,removable heating unit for a dispensing apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus whichis adaptable for storing, measuring, and dispensing a large variety ofmaterials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hopper having means tomaintain an even pressure in and an even flow through the bottom of thehopper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser forhygroscopic materials having means associated therewith for warding offsteam which would moisten the materials.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description. A preferred embodiment is decribed in detail, inaccordance with the provisions of U. S. Revised Statutes, sec. e888, butit is not intended thereby to limit the claims thereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a device embodying the principlesof the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation and in section, taken along the line II-IIof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line III-III in Fig. 1;

Fig. i is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of the linkagebetween the upper and lower frame portions;

.Fig. 5 is an enlarged view taken on the line V-V in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the bottom portion of Fig. l, the scalecorresponding to that of Fig. .5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the bottom portion of Fig. 2, the scalecorresponding to that of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view in section of a portion of thedispensing apparatus, the scale corresponding to that of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a view, somewhat enlarged, taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to and on the same scale as Fig. 9, showing aportion of the apparatus with the swing shield swung to its outwardposition;

I Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of the heating unit; a

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view in elevation and in section of aportion of the heating unit;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view of the under side of one portion ofthe heater plate;

Fig. 14 is a view, partly in section, of that portion of the machinewhere the air scavenging current crosses the metering disc underneaththe heater and goes out through a slit in the base ring; I

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the magazine;

Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view of the magazine;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of a portion of the upper closure plate of thedispensing chamber.

The machine as shown comprises broadly an enclosed hopper unit A adaptedto have its humidity under control regardless of the humidity of thearea in which the machine is in use; and below it a dispensing unit Badapted to be secured alongside a can line in a cannery and to drop intoeach can a measured amount of flavoring as the can goes by.

The hopper unit includes means C for detachably securing it to thedispensing unit; and means D for shutting its outlet when the units areapart and are stored separately.

The dispensing unit includes a measuring disc E, a funnel F withagitating means G, a magazine H to assure level measurement in the topof the measuring disc, a floating shoe J on the bottom of the measuringdisc, shields K and L, and heating means M to keep the parts hot andfree of moisture. A more detailed description follows.

The general framework The entire apparatus is usually supported above abase plate III, on three standards II, I2,

and I3, and is adapted to be placed beside a can conveyor forstep-by-step rotation by contact with each passing container.

Held by the standards at a level high enough to give ample clearance tomoving containers is a horizontal base ring I4. The short rear standardI3terminates adjacent to the ring I4 (see Figs. 2 and 7), but the sidestandards II and I2 extend through and above it (see Figs. 1 and 6),being inset at I5 to provide flanges I6 on which the ring I4 rests.

on the base ring I4 is mounted a central frame member 20. Its two legs2| and 22 rest on the ring I4 and are positioned by the standards II andI2,.which extend through them and terminate above them at substantiallythe level of the upper surface 23 of the frame 20. All the measuring anddispensing machinery is supported by the ring I4 and frame 20.

Above the center frame 26 is mounted the hopper or storage portion ofthe apparatus. A tubular metal frame 30, shaped like an inverted U withits legs 3| and 32 resting on the standards II and I2, supports thehopper 60 and the plate 40 which closes the upper end of the measuringand dispensing chamber. Each leg 3| and 32 of the tubular hopper framemember 30 is enclosed in an insulating rubber tube 33, so that it can behandled when the frame 30 is still hot. The lower end of each leg 3| and32 is interiorly threaded at 34, and a stud 35 is threaded therein.Preferably a plastic fitting 36 surrounds the lower end of each leg 3|and 32, its upper end fltting under the lower end of the insulatingrubber tube 33. The lower end of the fitting 36 is inset at 3 1 toprovide a flange 38 so that it may fit upon and in an opening 4I throughthe closure plate 46.

The opening 4| extends through the thickened rim 42 of the plate and isradially offset at 43.

The stud 35 extends through the opening M and a lock nut 44 is tightenedaround its lower end so that the plate 40 is secured to the frame 36. Aninsulating washer 45, preferably, is provided between the plate 40 andnut 44.

The frame coupling Preferably, the frame 30 is attached to the standardsII and I2 by a coupling of the type shown in Fig. 4. A socket 50,secured around the lower end of each stud 35 by means of threads, isbored through radially by several holes 5|, tapered inwardly. Each holereceives a ball 52 which is of larger diameter than the small end of thetaper. The lower end of the socket is flared at 53 and acts as a stop tohold the collar 54. The collar 54, which preferably is a phenolicmolding so that it can be handled when the machine is still hot, isslidably mounted on the socket 50. A spring urges the collar 54 normallydown against the flange 53. In this lower position the inside wall ofthe collar 54 holds the balls 52 in the tapered holes with part of eachball projecting through the small end of its hole. When the collar 54 islifted, its fiare 59 moves up OPP site the balls, and they are then freeto move outwardly enough to allow each ball to move clear of the innerwall of the socket;

When the collar 54 is heldin its upper position, a rounded and insetupper end of the standard II or I2 may be inserted into the socket 50.If the collar 54 is then released, the spring 55 will push the collardown, which will push the balls 52 into the annular groove 51 on the end56,so as to lock the parts together.

The hopper assembly The hopper assembly, which comprises the frame 30,closure plate 40, hopper 60, and skirt I00, is separable as a unit fromthe rest of the apparatus when the latter is being cleaned or when thehopper assembly is stored so that it can be used for dry storage ofhygroscopic materials, without having to put them back in their originalcontainer or some other container.

The hopper 60, itself, is preferably made of some lightweight,transparent material such as an acrylic resin, and comprises a lower,funnelshaped portion BI and an upper, generally cylindrical portion 62.The upper portion 62 is formed or molded with a. recess or spline 63(see Fig. 3) on each side to receive the legs 3I and 32 of the frame.Around the inside of the hopper 60 where the lower and upper portions6|, 62 meet, is a rim 64, and on it preferably rests a screen 65, whichserves to keep large chunks of material from falling through into thelower section 6| (see Figs. 2 and 3).

The upper end of the hopper 60 is covered by a dome, preferablycomprising two movable aluminum sections-an inner segment I0 and anouter segment II. Both of these are pivoted to the upper rim of thehopper at I2 and I3 so that the inner segment I0 may be swung inside theouter segment II or the outer segment II may be swung around the innersegment I0 when the hopper 60 is to be filled. Inside a turret orenlargement I4 on the upper part of the segment II, is an electricalsocket 15 with a light bulb I6. Any other suitable heating element maybe substituted. The heat from the bulb I6 serves to keep the interior ofthe hopper at an elevated temperature so that hygroscopic material iskept dry. The inner segment 10 protects the bulb I6 when the dome isOpened. The deflection of heat by the aluminum dome helps maintain thehopper interior at an elevated temperature.

From the socket an electric cable I! leads to a main electricalconnector 80 mounted in a bossed opening 8| through the closure plateat, where all the electrical controls are centralized'. The lug as iscompound and links the cable 1'? with a main cable 82, which leads to asource of A.-C. current, and to a thermostatic control-cable t3,- whichleads to a thermostatic switch 84 held by a bracket 85' on the lowersurface or the plate 48. The switch 84 is thus in the dispensing chamberwhen the hopper 60 is mounted in position and is responsive to thetemperature therein to connect or disconnect the main cable 8:2 with theheater cable at whose plu 81 fits into the main connector to (see Figs.7 and 11).- All of the electric; lines are preferably grounded by athird wire.

To mir'iimize heat transfer, the lower surface of the plate id isprovided with insulator buttons 88 which rest on the surface 23 when thehopper assembl is installed (see Figs. 7 and 8) A large, oil-centeropening to through the plate dureccives' the mouth or discharge openingdd of the hopper. An upper gasket 51 is provided between the mouth 9i?and plate All and resiliently supports the weight of the hopper til. Alower gashot 92 is also provided to cushion the hopper mouth so when itrests on the funnel lit during operation.

Around the upper interior rim lib of the hopper are one or more lugs 94(see Fig. 2), from one of which is suspended a hooked rod 925 having atits lower end a ball stop or baffle member 96. When the hopper at isused for feeding granular material, this ball as hangs as shown in Fig.2" and maintains an even head and therefore an even pressure on thegranular material in the hopper mouth till, funnel HQ, and magazine I30,

no matter how much salt is above the ball 95 in the hopper. By thismeans the salt is kept flowing evenly through the hopper opening. Whenit is desired to separate the hopper 60 from the rest of the apparatus,the handle 85 may be removed from its anchor 94 and the ball 9d loweredto close the hopper mouth 98.

The skirt loll preferably is transparent and is slid'able up and downaround the hopper 88 (see Figs. 1. and 2). In its lower position theskirt encloses the dispensing chamber. Its upper gasket Isl fits againstthe upper closure plate ti), and its lower gasket I532 fits against thebase ring M. It can be easily raised and lowered by its handles Iil'tand may be retained in its upper position by inserting the elastic band98 into the notches ltd. The elastic band 93 encircles the hopper $0just above the studs 91 (see Fig. 1). The skirt IE9 remains in thisupper position when the hopper assembly is removed from the dis--pensing unit.

The funnel head and the air circuit The mouth so of the hopper to fitsinto the upper end of a funnel head I Iii. The funnel I it is madeintegral with and is positioned on one 6 of dry compressed air areintroduced inside the funnel I It. These dry air currents keep theparticles separated and keep a free flow of material through the funnel.The air, before introduction into the funnel, preferably, is dried bysuitable apparatus before it is piped into the air inlet fitting 12s in:the hollow standard H (see Figs. 5 and 6). It is conducted up thepassage inside the standard II to a fitting I2I in the leg 2I or thecenter frame, and from there the:

air passes through a metal tube I22 to a manifold I23 in the head of thecentral frame mem her 2 3. The manifold I23 distributes the air throughtwo symmetrically located tubes I24 down into two air heating chambersI25. In each heating chamber I25 the air comes in contact with a largesurface of copper wire, foil, or similar metallic material of highconductivity, which material is heated by the heater 200, describedbelow.

There are two outlets from each air heater E25. One of these is througha tube I26 to the opening H5 and into the funnel IIO. To keep the airopenings H3 from being plugged by the granular material, an agitator rodI21 having a handle I28 is mounted in each opening I I5 (see Fig. 8).The other opening I29 (see Fig. 14) from each chamber I25 allows acurrent of air to flow radially outwardly under the heater 200, throughthe notch 263, across the upper face of the measuring disc ltd, and downthrough the slits ISI in the base ring I4 (see Fig. 9). This airstreamscavenges any stray salt particles from the measuring disc and directsany steam and moisture away from the apparatus.

The metering disc and lower closure assembly A rotatable spindle I32(Fig. 6) is suspended from the central frame member 20 and is supportedin it by suitable bearings. A handwheel I33 is pinned to the spindle I32above the metering disc I311], which may or may not be formed integrallywith the handwheel I33. A can turrot or star wheel its is also securedto and drives the spindle I322. The disc I and the turret I34 areadjustable on the spindle I32, so that they can be aligned to dump themeasured material in one opening I 35 of the disc I 30 when a can inreceiving position below. Preferably this is while the can is inengagement with an area I36 on the star wheel I34.

The metering disc I 30 preferably is adjusted so that its upper surfaceis slightly below the level of the upper surface of the base ring I4 onwhich rests the flat base 2IlI of the heater tilt. The disc, itself,includes aflat annular portion IZiII having a plurality of regularlyspaced cylindrical openings or pockets I35, corresponding in number tothe turret arms I36. Since the quantity measure of each pocket I35 isdetermined by its depth and diameter, the same machine may be used todispense different quantitles by using a disc IZ-iil which has the sizeof openings I35 desired. To facilitate cleaning of the machine at theend of the days operation. the disc I35? has spokes 33 to support theannular portion it? and connect it to the hub I39.

A metering disc shield Hit (Figs. 6 and 9) is preferably employed belowthe disc I30 to close on most of the bottom of the measuring anddispensing mechanism and thereby prevent access to these parts ofanysteam, vapor, moisture or cool air which may be present below themachine.

The shield It fits in an annular recess I formed in the bottom of thering I4. It is retained therein by a stationary screw or lug I44 and anoppositely positioned spring latch I45 carried in a boss I41. The shieldextends completely, around the bottom except for an opening at I43through which the measured material drops into the can, and except forthe area covered by the swing shield I50.

The swing shield I50 is held in position by a spring mounted rod IIextending into a tube I52 on the ring I4. Its purpose is to provide aneasily removable section of the shield so that access to the shoe I 00may be readily had.

Perforations I55 are provided in the swing shield I50, so that saltwhich may fall on the swing shield may drop on through instead ofbuilding up there. These perforations do not admit sufficient air tonullify the protection of the shield I50, which gives sufficient closureas well as protection against splashes and sudden currents of steam orair.

The swing shield I50, the shield I40, and the base ring I4 together forma substantially closed lower wall for the dispensing chamber. Theclosure plate 40 forms the upper wall of the chamber and the skirt I00forms the side wall. This provides a substantially closed, heatedchamber for the dispensing mechanism and makes possible maintenanc ofatmospheric conditions dry enough for dispensing even calcium chloride.

The magazine A spring mounted magazine I60 is provided for loading eachpocket I35 in the measuring disc I30, and it rests or floats lightly onthe top of the measuring disc (Figs. '7, 8, 15, and 16). The mounting ofthe magazine is such that it imposes a minimum of friction on the disc.This is important because the disc is sometimes turned by the very lightpressure of a can engaging the star wheel I34.

The function of the magazine is to deposit the salt or' other materialin the pockets of the measuring disc. The particular magazine structuredescribed her has been found especially effective in preventingpartially filled pockets and uneven measurement.

The magazine I60 comprises two pieces I6I and I62, both of which arecup-shaped and have slanting interior walls. The lower piece I6I has afiat bottom surface I63. It engages or floats on the measuring disc I30and levels the salt in the opening I35, as the measuring disc slidesunder it. Its upper surface I64 is also substantially flat, and receivesthe upper piece or rim I62. The bottom inside edge I65 of the rim isinset radially from the inside upper edge of the lower piece I6I. Thisprovides a projecting ledge I65 around the upper rim of the magazine.Preferably the outlet II4 from the funnel IIO is below the level of theledge I65. As will be pointed out later, the shape of the bottom openingin the magazine is important. It is generally oval with the longdimension lying in the path traveled of the pockets I35 below it. Also,at th ends of the oval it has inverse circular are portions I66, whichsomewhat coincide with one Wall of the pockets I35.

These parts function as follows: Salt spills into the magazine from theoutlet H4 and as it fills the lower piece I6I the level of the saltclimbs higher in the piece I6I. As th measuring disc revolves, the saltin the lower piece I6I will be urged laterally in the direction of discmovement with such-force as to gradually raise the level of the salt tothe ledge I65, without the feed tube to the magazine wa in a generallyhorizontal direction through openings around the lower end of the feedtube wall. The presence of lumps in the salt would result in sluggishflow or stoppage of salt if the lumps were too large to pass through therestricted wall openings; with an open bottom feed tube, a lump smallenough to enter the top of the tube will readily pass downward to themagazin and be sheared ofi and broken up by the movement of the pocketsin the disc.

The second advantage of the magazine comes from the sloping walls whichincline toward the magazine outlet. They allow the salt in the magazineto flow readily to supplement the fiow of the salt in the tube when thepocket is below the outlet. Then th magazine refills from the tubeduring the interval between pockets. This produces a sort of pulsatingeffect in the magazine and is important in getting a quick loading ofthe pocket in the short interval it is below the magazine.

A third advantage of the magazine comes from the particular shape of itsoutlet which might be described as generally oval, minus two oppositelypositioned inverse circular arcs I66in the path of the leading andtrailing edge of the moving pockets. The inverse circular arc I66 overthe leading edge of the pocket substantially coincides with the edge ofthe pocket and effects a wide opening the instant the filling starts.Likewis the circular arc I66 over the trailing edge will be a wideopening up to the instant of closing. This means the oval shape with theinverse arc gives a larger effective filling interval for a given arc ofmovement of the pocket, as compared with a circular opening of adiameter corresponding to the distance between the inverse circulararcs; Such a circle is indicated by the dotted lines X in Fig. 15.

By having a magazine opening of a maximum capacity for a minimum arc ofmovement of the pocket, it is possible to fill pockets suitable forsalting all the commercial can sizes with a minimum size of shoe and afixed discharge point in relation to the can conveyor. This means theonly change in metering salt to various sized cans is to change the discI30 and star wheel I34. The reasons a short shoe is important are thatfor the sake of user convenience the machine should operate both ways-i.e., forward and backwardand each can must clear before the next can, ifany, is filled, thus making it imperative to dump the salt as near thetangent point of the disc pockets as possible. The latter point ties tothe fact that the can pushing is the can filled. Thus if there is aninterval in cans on the conveyor, there will be no salt dumped with nocan to receive it, and no can without salt when the next can comes downthe conveyor.

A fourth advantage of the magazine I35 is that the sloping wall andledge I65 Over the inverse arcs I66 prevent spilling of the salt overthe edge or the magazine as the disc I30 tends to carry it from one endof the magazine to the other,

and also the ledge I65 tends to deflect the salt back along each sidewall to keep the other end of the magazine filled. Another advantage isthat the ledge and sloping wall structure makes possible a magazine of aminimum vertical height, thereby greatly facilitating its ready removalfor cleaning and inspection. Another advantage oi the ledge idea is thatit minimizes the distance which the feed tube Ht must extend down intothe magazine. In normal operation of the machine there will be only asmall amount of salt bearing against the outside edge. of the tube andthat will be only the edge in the end of the magazine where the disc istending to pile up. the salt. This means that there will not be anaccumulation of salt in the hopper burying the lower end of the feedtube and thereby interferin with the flexible and free movement of themagazine on the disc.

To keep the magazine aligned on the disc I30, the magazine hasvertically extending guide slots I68 on its opposite outer walls, eachof which receives a fixed ball-end guide stud I78 supported on bosses I7 I on the base ring I l.

To obtain the gentle floating action of the magazine on the disc I38, aspring-pressed, L- shaped rod 15, with a finger I16; is fitted into arecess I61 on each side of the magazine. Each rod I15 is mounted insidea tubular boss I'll which depends from the funnel housing I It. Anydesired tension is obtained by adjusting a, cap H9 to vary thecompression on a spring Ilt carried in the boss Ill and pressing on oneend against a flange on the rod lit and on the other and again het p. oft ap- The spring pressed rods I755 make possible very quick and easyremoval of the magazine. This is important because after each daysoperation a thorough cleaning of all the parts is advise able.Otherwise, overnight any salt r calcium chloride will harden and lump.To remove the magazine the operator lifts up on the rods I15 until themagazine clears the studs Ill), Then he tilts the magazine until oneedge will slid? beneath the bottom H4 of the funnel HQ. This tilting a smo s the rod fin ers- I16. from. he recesses I61; in the magazine.

The shoe interval is for about .10 degrees of its rotation.

It may be more or less. However, as, explained in connection, With themagazine, an important operating characteristic is to have the shoe asshort as possible, which the oval inverted are opening makes possible.

The closure of each pocket during the above interval is effected by ashoe I96 which bears gently against the bottom of the measuring discI30. As in the case or the magazine, this pressure shouldbe kept to aminimum.

The shoe comprises a segment of a ring and preferably has a depressedcenter Its-with a rim I93 in a plane to bear against the bottom o;f themeasuring disc. The depressed center will fill with salt so that the netamount measured into each pocket will be the volume of the pocket. Asthe filled pocket is moved off the shoe, the contents of the pocket fallthrough the opening I42- into the can which accomplished the moving ofthe disc by contact with the star wheel I34.

The shoe has a U shaped supporting member I91 which is adjustable insuitable holes byset screws I95. When in position, the bottom of the Usurrounds the supportin tube I and gauges the radial position of theshoe.

Vertical support of the shoe is obtained by a rod- I8I- having a ballttmounted on itsbent end I82. The end I82 fits in a slot Hi2- in thebottom of the shoe andprevent lateral displacement of the latter. Therod I81 is yieldably supported in a tube 589 by a spring 84 and thecompression on this spring is regulated by a nut r85 threaded on the endof the rod I8I.

When the operator is cleaning the machine he has a choice of completelyremoving the shoe or of removing the end I82 from the slot I92 andallowin the iJ-member I! of the shoe to hang on the end I62. In thislatter position the shoe will drain easily during the cleaningoperation.

Th heat r To maintain an even, elevated temperature inside thedispensing chamber and to keep all the parts therein warmed, a heater 60is provided (see Figs. 11, 12 and 13).

It comprises a plate segment 2M shaped to conform to and overlie themeasuring disc I30, except in the vicinity of the magazine I60.Perforation 2% facilitate inspection of the pockets I35 as the measuringdisc rotates. The plate 201 is supported on the base ring M between thelegs 2 I and 22 of the main frame 20. The plate 2-! has a snug fit withthe airheater chambers I25 under which it projects so that there is amaximum of heat conduction to the air heaters. As

mentioned earlier, there is a notch 203 in the forward bottom surfaceor"- the plate 2Ill which heats, guides and deflects the air currentacross the top of the measuring disc I30 (Fig. 14).

The plate 2M is heated by one or more electrical heating elements 264.Two are shown here as they have proven adequate. Each is containedwithin a housing 265' secured to the plate 20!. The housing has asloping roof 205 against whichthe electrical heating element 204contacts. This contact is maintained by means of a wedgeshaped lowersupport 26'!" for the heating element and a spring 28 8 which appliesconstant pressure to the wedge. Heat is thus communicated by contact ofthe heating element with the roof of the housing and with the wedge,which in turn is in contact with the plate 2M.

A suitable electric lead-in circuit, is shown at 86. The insulatedsockets Z-Iil; and cord 86 provide a handle by which the heater 203 maybe taken out of the machine while the heater is still hot. Theelectrical wiring insulation thus provides the only handle needed.

In addition to the foregoing advantages, this heater plate 281 isreadily removable by the op.- erator for the cleaning operation. Anotheraide, vantage of the wedge device is that new heating elements can beinstalled by any electrician,

and the wedge will make certain that there is the necessary firm contactbetween the elements, the shell, and the wedge.

Operation h o m olved. by hi d s sin machine have been those existingheretofore, particularly in the canning industry where salt or calciumchloride in uniform amounts is added to each can. These materials arehygroscopic, and particularly is this true of calcium chloride.Heretofore no machine has been available to dispense-calcium chloride ina cannery. Around a cannery there is usually escaping steam from thecookers, moisture from the washing machines, .vapors rising out of thefilled cans, and generally a very humid atmospheric condition. Thepresent machine is able to dispense hygroscopic materials under any orall of the above adverse conditions.

The machine is installed alongside the can line conveyor with the starwheel I34 extending into the path of the cans so that each can willengagean arm I36 and give it a partial rotation. This partial rotationwill carry a measuring pocket I35 from under the magazine IGII into theposition shown in Fig. 9 so that the contents of the. pocket will fallthrough the opening I4'2 into the can. This is repeated as each. canrotates the star wheel.

At the start of each days operation the operator turns on the electriccurrent which lights the globe It in the hopper dome and turns on theheater 2853. When the dispensing chamber is warmed past a preselectedtemperature, the thermostat 8 i turns off the heater circuit, but thelight It burns continuously. Compressed air is admitted through thefitting I20 and thence to the funnel IIII as well as out through theslots I3I.

In the hopper, the hand rod 95 is suspended from one of the lugs 94, andthe ball stop 95 is held above the hopper mouth 9i so that the materialwill pass through it under constant pressure into the funnel III]. Thetransparent walls of the hopper 60 show when the salt is getting low,and from time to time the inner dome segment I may be swung into theouter segment II, or the outer segment I I, may be swung around theinner segment .10 and fresh material poured inside the hopper 60, whereit is strained through the screen 65.

As salt passes through the funnel III], the particles are kept separatedby the air current. If one of the air openings H should become pluggedby the material, the rod I21 may be moved to free the opening.

, From the mouth II4 of the funnel IILI, the material falls into themagazine I55), the sloping walls of the magazine and the inset edge I65of the upper magazine section, serving to prevent any overflow. Thebottom of the magazine is closed by the disc I39, except when ameasuring pocket I35 passes beneath it. The pocket then fills up andstays full until it is moved over. the edge of the shoe I90 which allowsit to empty into a can.

The air currents directed under the heater 200 through the notches 2B3scavenge any remaining particles from the top of the disc I39 and carrythem out through the slits I3I-at the same time blowing away anymoisture or steam which may be lurking in the vicinity of the dispensingmechanism.

During all this time the operations may be watched through thetransparent skirt lite and the transparent hopper 60.

When, for any reason, it is desired to separate the hopper assembly fromthe dispensing apparatus, the stopper 95 should be lowered to close thehopper mouth 90. Next the skirt I00 is raised,

and is held in its raised position about the hop per 60 by the elasticband 98. Then the heater 200 must be unplugged. The machine is thenready to be separated by raising each flared col-- lar 54 against thespring 55, to free the socket connections on the standards II and I2.The

12 hopper assembly may then be set aside, to rest on the sockets 50,buttons 88 and gasket 92. In this condition the salt may be left in thehopper overnight or for longer periods of storage,

At the end of each day's run the hopper should be removed as abovedescribed. Then the heater 200 should be removed. Next the swing shieldI50 is depressed. It may be swung around to the front of the machine,andthe shield I4I may then be removed by pulling down the ring I45, androtating the shield until it will clear the legs II, I2, and I3. Thenthe magazine I60 should be removed and the shoe I90 should be droppeddown so that it is hanging from the arm I82, or the shoe should beremoved. In this condition the dispensing assembly may be steam cleanedand allowed to dry during the shut down. When placed back in use, themachine is put together in the reverse order.

We claim:

1. A dispensing and measuring machine adapted to handle hygroscopicgranular materials comprising a lower dispensing and measuring unit, anda separable upper hopper and storage unit; said lower unit including abase frame, a measuring device moving in an opening therein, a funnelfor conveying said material to said measuring device, an upper closureplate located near the top of said funnel, a plurality of legssupporting said frame and said closure plate and terminating above saidplate, and means for actuating said measuring device to deposit apredetermined amount of said material; said upper unit including aU-shaped frame with the legs of the frame engageable with legs of saidlower unit, latch means for releasably fastening said frame to saidlegs, a transparent body enclosure member secured to said frame, saidbody including a hopper and a cover, and an outlet from said hopper intosaid funnel.

2. The device of claim 1 in which a skirt encloses said lower unitbetween said base ring and said upper closure plate.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said skirt is transparent.

4. The device of claim 2 in which said skirt slides upwardly and becomesa part of the upper unit when the latter is to be detached.

5. The device of claim 2 in which there is independent heating means insaid upper and lower units for maintaining a dry atmospheric conditionin each.

6. The device of claim 2 having a heating means mounted over saidmeasuring device and which means is removable to allow access to saidmeasuring device for cleaning.

7. The device of claim 2 having a closure plate secured below said baseframe, said plate having an opening to pass measured material into acan.

8. The device of claim '7 in which the closure plate is open below saidmeasuring means and a separate swingable shield fills said opening.

9. A non-spilling magazine adapted to float its bottom on the uppersurface of a measuring wheel having pockets and to receive a supply ofgranular material from a hopper outlet which extends inside the mouth ofsaid magazine; comprising a lower body portion having a hole in itsbottom and its top, and an upper body portion which extends radiallyinwardly from the top edge of said lower body portion, but does notengage said outlet.

10. The magazine claimed in claim 9 in which the sides of the bottomopening, which lie trans- 13 verse to the path of the object to befilled, are shaped in the form of inverse circular arcs.

11. A receiving and dispensing magazine comprising a lower body memberhaving a substantially Vertical passage therethrough, the interior wallssloping inwardly toward the bottom and a similarly shaped upper bodymember, mounted on top of said lower member and having its lower endhorizontally inset from the upper end of said lower member.

12. The magazine claimed in claim 11, in which the sides of the bottomopening which lie transverse to the path of the object to be filled, areshaped in the form of inverse circular arcs.

13. In a dispensing apparatus having measuring means for releasing itscontents and a hopper having a discharge opening spaced above itsmeasuring means, the combination therewith of a receiving and dispensingmagazine, adjacent said discharge opening and with its lower endslidably en aging said measuring means; said magazine comprising twosections, a lower section having inwardly and downwardly sloping wallsand a similarly shaped upper section inset horizontally from the upperedge of said lower section.

14. The magazine claimed in claim 13 in which the opening in its lowerend is shaped to conform at each side with the openings in the measuringmeans, whereby a slit is uncovered at the initial movement of eachopening under the ma azine.

15. The magazine claimed in claim 13 in which the sides of the openingwhich are generally transverse to the path of movement of the measuringmeans comprise inverse circular arcs of a radius corresponding to theopenings in said measuring means.

16. In a dispensing apparatus the combination of measuring means havingprovision for releasing its contents; a hopper for comminuted materialhaving a discharge means at its lower end slidably engaging saidmeasuring means; means enclosing said discharge means and said measuringmeans except for two outlets therefrom, one a contents-releasing outlet,and the other an air current outlet adjacent and outside saidcontents-releasing outlet; means for maintaining said hopper, saiddischarge means, and said measuring means within a pre-selectedtemperature range above room temperature; and means for directing ablast of air out through said air current outlet so as to deflectoutside moist air away from said contents-releasing outlet.

17. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination of measuring means havingprovision for releasing its contents; a hopper for comminuted materialhaving a discharge opening at its lower end; a receiving and dispensingmagazine adjacent said discharge opening in lateral spaced relationthereto, its lower end slidably engaging said measuring means; a housingenclosing said discharge opening, said magazine, and said measuringmeans and having two outlets therefrom, a contents-releasing outlet fromsaid magazine and an air-current outlet outside said contentsreleasingoutlet and adjacent thereto; means for maintaining said hopper, saidmagazine, and said measuring means within a pre-selected temperaturerange above room temperature; and means for directing a stream of heatedair across the top of said measuring means and down through said aircurrent outlet, whereby stray material is removed from Within saidhousing and the outflowing air stream deters entry of outside air inthrough said contents-releasing outlet.

WILLIAM J. EMMONS. BERNARD S. GALLAGHER.

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